Pope Benedict receives Egyptian Patriarch, praises Alexandrian tradition

Vatican City, Dec. 15, 2006 (CNA) - Pope Benedict XVI met today with His Beatitude Antonios Naguib, the Patriarch of Alexandria for Catholic Copts who is officially visiting the Holy See for the first time since his election in March of this year.

The term Copt refers to any Christian of Egyptian origin, whether they be Catholic, Orthodox, or Protestant. The Catholic Coptic Church, maintains an eastern liturgy and elects its own patriarch, while maintaining its allegiance to the Holy Father and the universal Catholic Church.

The Church in Alexandria, founded by the Apostle St. Mark, is considered one of the oldest foundations of Christianity in the world

In his French address, the Pope asked the patriarch to give his greetings to all the bishops, priests, and faithful of his patriarchy, as well as to Cardinal Stephanos II Ghattas, Patriarch Emeritus of Alexandria.

"The communion in Christ that unites us and all Catholics around the Successor of Peter is best seen in the celebration of the Divine Liturgy," said the Holy Father.

While recalling that the seat of Alexandria was the "first patriarchy after Rome" during the first five centuries of Christianity, Benedict XVI emphasized that its patriarchal community is the "bearer of a rich spiritual, liturgical, and theological tradition - the Alexandrian tradition -, whose treasures form part of the Church's patrimony".

Pope Benedict receives Egyptian Patriarch, praises Alexandrian tradition